Walking aid for youngsters



Nov. 22, 1955 c. H. MCDERMOTT WALKING AID FOR YOUNGSTERS Filed June 18, 1953 cfDumoH United States Patent Ofilice 2,724,193 Patented Nov. 22, 1955 2,724,193 WALKING AID FOR YOUNGSTERS Christopher H. McDermott, Eagle Grove, Iowa Application June 18, 1953, Serial No. 362,591

6 Claims. (Cl. 36-1) This invention relates to footwear but instead of service use is adapted primarily as an aid in teaching youngsters to walk.

Such small children have very narrow feet and usually have very soft soled shoes. Because of this condition, when they are learning to walk they are very unstable, tending to fall either to the right or left. Even with stiff soled shoes the fall is outward and to the side.

Therefore, the principal object of my invention is to provide a platform for the shoes or the feet of youngsters that gives support beyond the side periphery of each of the feet of the user.

A further object of my invention is to provide a walking aid for small children that may be Worn with or without shoes.

A still further object is to provide a foot support for those learning to walk that may be easily and quickly installed for use and as easily and quickly removed.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a foot supporting platform for aid in walking that is economical in manufacture, durable in use, and refined in appearance.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, and specifically pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my platform showing the position of a foot thereon,

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of a pair of my walking aids, and

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view of my walking platform taken on line 3--3 of Fig. 2 and more fully illustrates its construction.

Referring to these drawings in detail, I have used the numerals and 11 to generally designate the right and left platforms, for the right and left feet of the user respectively. These platforms may be made of any suitable relatively stifi sheet material such as plastic, chip board, wood, leather, aluminum or the like. From my experimentation I recommend material such as good grade linoleum, inasmuch as it is economical, easily cut, and has a desirable resiliency that provides comfort, and suitable traction. While these platforms may be likened to a sole, the invention resides primarily in their shape as shown in the figures. When the foot is secured to the top of a platform, it does not materially extend laterally beyond the toe, inside line, or heel of the foot of the user. It does, however, materially extend laterally beyond the outside line of the foot and in particular at the side of the forward side portion of the foot. I have designated this extension portion by the numeral 12 and its extreme width beyond the foot area is substantially one-half of the width of the foot of the user. The end of the platform is substantially at a right angle to the longitudinal axis of the foot 13, but is rounded at each corner as shown in Fig. 2. The width of the portion 12 decreases in width as it extends rearwardly. Any suitable means may be employed to secure the platform to a foot or shoe. In the drawings I have used the numeral 14 to designate a Ucollar formed or secured onto the back top portion of the platform to receive the heel of the user. An ankle strap, cord or like 15 may be secured. to either the ends of the collar 14, or the platform, for holding the foot back within the collar when the device is in use. The numeral 16 designates any type of strap, cord or like secured to the platform and extending over the top of the foot for holding the forward portion of the foot downwardly on the platform. The collar 14, and fastening means 15 and 16 are so positioned that the foot will be held at the extreme inner portion of the platform. This is important so that one platform will not catch on the other platform when the child is learning to walk. When my device is worn by a youngster learning to walk, he cannot well fall to either side nor to the side and forwardly. Inasmuch as a platform is worn on both feet the child will be supported in both side directions and both forwardly and outwardly directions. I have found that with my platforms a child can walk almost from the first try.

Although I have described my invention as an aid to teach children to walk, obviously it may be utilized by handicapped mature people, such as those that have been afflicted with poliomyelitis, arthritis, and the like.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of my walking aid for youngsters without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims, any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

1. In a walking aid, a flat platform, :a means for securing the foot of the user to its top side adjacent the inner side edge thereof, and an extended portion on said platform progressing substantially laterally outwardly from the area normally contacted by the foot of a user; said distance of progression laterally outwardly being substan tially to one-half the width of said area normally contacted by the foot of the user.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a foot-supporting attachment primarily intended as a walking aid for application to each foot of a shod as well as an unshod child when learning to walk, and comprising a stiff fiat bottomed foot-supporting platform of a length and width greater than the corresponding dimensions of the foot to be applied thereto, said platform being of materially increased width adjacent its forward or toe end and its top surface providing foot heel and ball-supporting portions immediately adjacent the outermost limits of its inner side edge, the ball-supporting portion located inwardly of the forward or toe end of said platform, heel and ball positiondefining means carried by said respective portions and having parts substantially flush with the adjacent inner side edge portions of said platform, and foot-securing means incorporated in each of said position-defining means, whereby when a platform is applied to eachfoot, the wearer when walking cannot overlap inner edge portions of one platform upon the other to precipitate a fall.

3. The structure set forth in claim 2 and the heel position-defining means located substantially short of both the rear or heel end and outer side edge of said platform.

4. The structure set forth in claim. 2 and the heel position-defining means located substantially inwardly of the adjacent outer side edge portion of said platform.

5. The combination set forth in claim 2 and at least the ball position-defining means located a substantial distance inwardly of the outer side edge of said platform.

6. The combination set forth in claim 2 and said heel position-defining means comprising a U-shaped member secured to the top surface of said platform.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,216,630 Sabel a a1. 0a. 1, 1940 

